Inspired by Rany Jazayerli's "Top 216 moments for the 2015 Royals", and because I feel like it, I'm going to post the top 108 moments for the 2016 Cubs season. These moments are ranked by my biases and opinions, which is good enough for me. I'm considering WPA of the moment, along with significance of the game in the season, and also trying to cover moments from as many of the Cub players as possible, as almost everyone on the roster contributed positively to the season in at least some way.

Some pre-emptive answers to questions before we get started:

Why 108? - Well, now that the 108 year streak is broken, it's one last chance to remember that # before it's gone to history along with the season.

How long will this list take? - I'm shooting for one every day, up until it finishes up on opening day. If I can figure out how to embed MLB video, I'll include a video in each post of the moment.

But there are only 102 days until opening day! - Well, smart guy, that's not even a question! I'll do the top 5 moments on the last day, since interest in the team is only going to grow until then. I'll toss an extra one in here or there as needed to fill out the list.

What do you mean by "momemt"? - A specific play in a game in most cases. Some cases it'll involve an entire game's performance, since starting pitchers rarely have one "moment" in a game where they shine. In some cases, I'll string together a series of plays that play into each other as one moment so I can more easily pare this down to 108, because just off the top of my head I can think of a good 25-30 plays just from game 7 of the World Series.

Who died and made your opinions important enough for this post? - Nobody, just thought it'd be fun to do and interesting to follow. I feel like there's a bit of a dearth of good Cub-focused writing, as my favorite Cub blog writer is behind a paywall, and the media is largely made up of meatheads and shock jocks. Heck, I don't care about the Royals and I followed every single one of Rany's 216 moments last year.

Tonight I'll start with a quick post about the players on the roster that don't get a moment in the list, and start with #108.

Last edited by bukie on Sun Apr 02, 2017 2:42 pm, edited 93 times in total.

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The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist.

Brian Matusz - He was a Cub for a day. Do you remember the day where Matusz outdueled Felix Hernandez? Because that's totally not what happened. His most positive outcome from his day was striking out Cano looking with a runner on 2nd in the first inning, just before giving up a 2-run HR and putting the Cubs in a near insurmountable hole in 3 innings of pure awful, giving up 6 runs. I suppose he did contribute to a posibive Cubs moment in that sense, giving them the opportunity to come back from that hole, since they eventually won the game 7-6.

Joel Peralta - He actually appeared in five games for the Cubs, and his most positive outcome was entering a 2-2 game against the Reds in the 13th with the winning run on 2nd and giving up a rocket to Joey Votto that was caught for a double play. Aside from that all he did was blow a game to the Mets 2 days later that made them think they were in the Cubs' league this year. There isn't a single Joel Peralta video highlight for the Cubs this season.

Joe Nathan - He was a Cub for a whole week, and actually picked up the victory July 24 against the Brewers, after striking out the side in the 6th (and giving up a leadoff 3B and walk) down 4-1 just prior to the Cubs coming back in a big way. Never gave up a run with the Cubs, but never provided a whole lot of value in his 3 outings either.

Jake Buchanan - He won a game with the Cubs! Pitched 5 innings, gave up no runs against a Reds team that had basically given up, and provided actual positive value. Beyond that, largely nondescript. His other game he came into the 9th inning of a 7-1 game and finished the game, giving up a run against the Brewers.

Neil Ramirez - Poor Neil. Lights out in past years, injuries caught up with him and he didn't have the same stuff as he had in the past. He threw 8 times with the Cubs this season before they put him on waivers, and pitched for both Milwaukee and Minnesota this season. His Cub highlight this season was getting one out in the 13th in a wild game in Milwaukee on May 18 that will show up on the highlight list at some point. Unfortunate, none of Neil's pitching made video this season.

Adam Warren - Came over from the Yankees for Starlin Castro. Pitched well initially for the most part, then fell apart in the end of May and June, and was sent to the Yankees as part of the Chapman deal. His biggest contribution came in two consecutive late wins against the Nats in May, where he held them scoreless long enough for the Cubs to pull ahead both times.

Joe Smith - Joe came over from the Angels at the trade deadline, and immediately did terrible for a month. After contributing nothing positive in 6 August outings, he actually contributed positively in 9 of 10 September outings, but unfortunately the biggest outing of his year, striking out two Giants in the 7th to preserve a 1-run deficit and end up with the win, didn't make it on video. One thing did, though...

Jeimer Candelario - Jeimer made his major league debut this season, playing in 5 games. He managed just one hit, however, and that was in a blowout, so his highlight reel is pretty short. He did HR in spring training, though, and may have more of an effect on the team next season.

Tim Federowicz - Tim was brought up for a bit in May when the Cubs needed a second catcher with Montero on the DL. He didn't do a whole lot, really only providing a significant positive WPA in a single game, a 7-1 victory over the Pirates, where he doubled and scored. His only other extra base hit came against the Padres in a game the Cubs gave away late.

Munenori Kawasaki - Kawasaki was a fan favorite, and a clubhouse presence, but didn't do a whole lot of note for the team statistically. He provided the most value during a 5-4 Cub victory over the Brewers on September 16, but there wasn't really a moment in there of note. His biggest moment, really, was in the preseason, which doesn't really count towards the season moments, but I almost included it anyway.

Why #108? - It was a Cub HR in the All-Star Game, which is rare, but it's still just the All-Star Game. It counts, but not for much, and not any more (thankfully).

Why on the list? - Bryant's All-Star Game HR was the lone Cub highlight in an otherwise forgettable game that caused the Indians to get Game 7 of the World Series at home. Thanks, Johnny Cueto! The Cubs made some history in this game, as this was the first time the entire starting infield was all from the same team. Bryant was just the 8th Cub to HR in an All-Star game, joining Alfonso Soriano, Andre Dawson, Billy Williams, George Altman, Ernie Banks, Hank Sauer, and Augie Galan.

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The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist.

I laughed so horsefeathering hard, reading the article where Theo was going horsefeathers and took a walk midgame, during the Matusz debacle. His idea was to go into the locker room and apologize for getting too cute, by calling Matusz up.

I just love the mental image of Theo holding a team meeting....."Guys, I horsefeathers up. Never should have called that, um, ear muffs Brian, sack of horsefeathers up to pitch."

5 x

Additional rule: you have to have one or the other.The only exception is you have an amazing board name. davell, I'm looking at you; put up a [expletive] avatar or something if your name only sounds like somebody tried say Dave as they lapsed into a coma.

Not only a ring, but very likely got a full playoff share(over 350k) as well.

'Murica

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Additional rule: you have to have one or the other.The only exception is you have an amazing board name. davell, I'm looking at you; put up a [expletive] avatar or something if your name only sounds like somebody tried say Dave as they lapsed into a coma.

this is awesome and I'm glad you are doing this. I think it would be helpful if you don't mind the extra effort to update the thread title each time you add an entry. Something like:

Top 108 Moments for the 2016 Cubs (#108 Bryant ASG HR)

then

Top 108 Moments for the 2016 Cubs (#107 whatever this is)

Or if you don't want to spoil the moment in the thread title just the number you have most recently posted. Certainly don't have to but it would be nice to know when you add a new entry vs. other discussion in the thread.

Not meaning to fake out, as I won't get to do 107 until later tonight, but it involves another seldom-used player that was interesting enough to make the list.

Anybody have any other fond memories from Cubs at the All Star Game?

The only things I remember about the ASG other than the HR was Rizzo making a nice stab at 1B to get out Ortiz, and then Lester, in the middle of a bad stretch, getting into a jam he didn't really create (cant remember why, maybe an error?) and not being allowed to get out of the inning.

Speaking of the All Star game, little things still click with me about making/winning the World Series, and while typing this post it reminded me that Joe Maddon will coach the NL All Stars this year.

Edit: Oh I remember one more - Addy with a nice drive to dead center in his first AB that for a brief second looked like it might leave the yard.

I'll forever have a spot in my heart for Jake Buchanan. My wife and I got a hotel and went to the last 3 regular season games in Cincinnati. We were excited that Lester and Hendricks were pitching the last 2 games, but kinda bummed we'd have to sit through a lame ass Buchanan start first. Well, it turned out Lester and Hendricks sucked but Buchanan pitched well. Baseball is dumb and awesome.

Why #107? - Using pitchers in the outfield and double switching them into the game to pitch? That's unique. However, nobody hit a flyball to LF during any of this, so the theory wasn't even tested in this game.

Why on the list? - I mean, it's memorable, nobody had ever done it before, and it was obscure enough that even Len and JD had to double check the rules on it. Plus it annoyed Bryan Price to no end, which made it doubly worth it. Plus, the Cubs won the game, marking it as Spencer Patton's only career Cub victory, in a game he also played LF. This is also the lone Joel Peralta positive WPA outing as he got Votto to line into a DP to end the 13th. How did the Cubs score five runs in the 15th, you ask? Well, see for yourself:

When I think of the regular season, this is the first game that comes to mind for me. I love games that go way outside the box like this. I had absolutely no idea if a pitcher in this game could earn both the win and the save if his appearances on the mound were broken up by another pitcher, and that was fun. Of course the Cubs blowing the game open really helped too!